Canberra GreenDrinks

How could we encourage a change in behaviour to improve Canberra's sustainability?

2010-06-16T05:45:00.000-07:00

Thursday 10 June 2010

Source: http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_b64ZYWaGBfQ/SdnqhKKxhsI/AAAAAAAAAVw/HwkMQQ-QiZY/s400/Beliefs.png

Key points of discussion about how we could encourage a change in behaviour to improve Canberra's sustainability included:

AWARENESS

Shame people
Create transparency of environmental impact – for example: put water and energy use label on the letterbox
Move from debating climate change, to debating specific environmental issues that are not up for debate such as water or food scarcity issues
Shift media from promoting bad news – although this sells
Change the way we are educated – we need to train the next generations to use resources and shift business-as-usual with vested interest

ECONOMICS

Deter consumption – 90% of commercial TV sells adds which encourages consumption
Shift from a consumption-based economy and consume differently – for example: a business model that works is Interface carpets which moved to a carpet laying ‘service’
Create a cost demand
Link status with being frugal and reduced energy and water use
Economic paradigm needs to change - although economics is beginning to force things to change with higher costs
Need to put a cost on the earth and resources
Need a value to currency link – environmental sensitive to scarcity – price on atmosphere

POLITICS

Change to a 4 year term for politicians
Update constitution to include a sustainability framework, extended term for politicians with how to get rid of people in power if necessary.
Need to question – what do we want from our leaders?

How could we reach a 40% reduction target in emissions in Canberra?

2010-05-28T23:19:00.000-07:00

Thursday 13 May 2010

Topics at GreenDrinks fluctuated between sunscreen, beer and a range of other random topics.

However specific to the topic of the evening, it was noted that we needed to review where emissions are coming from in the ACT (heating and transport) and that the ACT has a relatively high disposable income which could be used to offset emissions as a worse case scenario.

Reference: Pitt & Sherry, ACT Greenhouse Gas Inventory Series, 2009

Key points of discussion about how we could reach a 40% reduction target in emissions in Canberra included:

ENERGY REDUCTION

Utilise the HEAT (Home Energy Advice Team) program - $30-40
Switch to Greenpower and have formal certification of 100% Greenpower with letterheads and a 'tick logo' similar to the Heart Foundation
Identify cheap technologies that government can purchase and deploy for example: smart powerboards, sensors, smart grid, smart meters, etc.
Add gas to Watson and areas that do not currently have it or have a part solar rebate specifically for non-gas reticulated areas
Invest in wind turbines
Sub-division controls and stricter new building controls
More legislation - ban black roofs, 7-star housing
Encourage better design, educate future generations and work with indigenous
Go nuclear
Utility scale storage - pumped air or hydro

TRANSPORT REDUCTION

Diversify Canberra
Store/keep food at home
Employers ensure cyclists are safe through insurance schemes
Local waste cooking oil bio-diesel facility with compulsory recycling of restaurant oils, etc.

OTHER REDUCTIONS

Organic waste collection
Eat less cabbage

Links noted:
www.love40percent.org
www.heat.net.au
www.yourhome.gov.au
www.thetenproject.com

How can we improve the sustainability of our water in Canberra?

2010-04-18T04:21:00.000-07:00

Thursday 15 April 2010

There was varied discussion at GreenDrinks tonight, which fluctuated between water, transport and a range of other random topics.

Some key points of discussion about how to improve the sustainability of our water in Canberra included:

Recycled drinking water - which is often better quality than reservoir water
Address media (scare mongering) and the psychology of drinking recycled water, considering water is typically recycled from rivers
Identify who uses water in Canberra
Establish a system that gives an immediate response to households
Establish an appropriate price point - pricing water correctly will change what we produce
Consider whether plants should be grown - use shadecloth and mulch as a minimum
Review split-incentives where landlords pay for water of tenants
Consider sustainable houses and clean drinking water: www.abundantwater.org
Clarify the sign on Bruce Drive showing water use and water targets as it does not make sense

Other discussion included:

Frugality - close coal mines but to do this most appropriately they will require compensation
Ignorance is the enemy
Understand the split of the RET into a small scale and large scale target

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KNOWCHANGE Canberra

2010-03-24T05:14:00.000-07:00

Monday 22 March 2010

Although this is not a specific Green Drinks event, it did involve discussions about green topics with a range of people from various backgrounds, and it did involve drinking - so I think it is appropriate that the outcomes of the discussions from the evening be included on this blog.

The initial question of the evening started with:

What may be the single most underlying factor in the way of systemic change towards sustainability?

This question was then followed with:

What do you as an individual need to create systemic change towards sustainability?

The night was set to be interesting!

RESPONSES:

Time-resources
Stepping out of comfort zone
Awareness, knowledge and availability of information
Choice
Realisation of cause and effect
Seeing possibilities
Chunks of money
Taking responsibility
Empowering myself and others
Thinking outside the square
Unleashing my creative potential
Unlearning
Open communications and conversations
Connecting

Money
Understanding and succeeding in empowering people
Ban on advertising
Fun/Comedian

Independence - banks (financial) and self sufficiency
Dance lessons
Connection and collaboration
Long-term planning
Achieving Maslow's hierarchy of needs

Establishing Green as the new Black
Talking to the right people
Getting into action
Knowing who the right people to talk to are
Establishing missing skill-sets and tapping into skill-sets of others
Blog, Journo's, talk back radio

A big thank you to Elena Bondareva for facilitating the evening.

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It was proposed to have another event in 2 months time, so put the tentative date of 17 May 2010 in your diary - 6.00-8.00pm: location to be determined.

How can we make housing in Canberra more affordable and sustainable?

2010-03-10T03:31:00.000-08:00

Wednesday 10 March 2010

There was much discussion at GreenDrinks tonight, which fluctuated between housing, transport, apple festivals and camel culling.

Some key points of discussion about how to make housing in Canberra more affordable and sustainable included:

PLANNING AND DESIGN

Canberra Cohousing and sharing - such as cars.
Size of houses and number of people in the house.
More land does not equal more affordable housing.
Planning guidelines need to be reviewed and enforced, particularly carparks for pool cars, how to encourage community and safety and design for good solar orientation.
Solar vents, move away from concrete, mandatory double-glazing and proper sealing of doors.
Net zero energy home targets, which allows for a spectrum of varying profits, and minimum standards to best practice of complete zero energy homes or beyond.
Design for garages/bins together to facilitate informal conversations and encourage a sense of community.

ECONOMICS

Developers income revenue stream, particularly in the 5-7 year range, and how to have low energy use incentives, such as ESCO (energy service company).
Need to address supply demand.
Taxation.
Bank lending criteria.

TRANSPORT

Free bus travel should be included with car registration.
Establish a bus system that operates like a light rail that has main carriage ways and circular bus systems that run in smaller loops, dropping passengers at main carriage ways (these could be minibus').
Transit bus lanes along Northbourne Avenue.
Park and Ride at schools.

SOCIAL/CULTURE

Behaviour/cultural changes.
Simplify the argument and convert the sceptics.
Encourage frugality and reduce the need for competition and dissatisfaction.
Reduce the fear and reluctance to change, control and have power.
Develop a sense of community with everyone having vested interest.
Focus on positive instead of negative.

ACTIONS

Get University Students to research the above ideas.

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What can we do to make Canberra transport more sustainable?

2010-03-10T03:28:00.000-08:00

Wednesday 10 February 2010.

Welcome!

2010-03-02T03:27:00.000-08:00

Canberra Green Drinks

Greendrinking is good for your health! (and the world)

The beer’s not green, but we are. Come meet activists, entrepreneurs, tree-huggers and bureaucrats, students and various assorted extras. All in the amiable surrounds of a licensed hostelry.

When: the 2nd Wednesday of every month, except for January.
Where: Wig & Pen (Canberra House Arcade, Alinga St Canberra City).
Time: 5:30 to 8.30 (ish) pm.

Email greendrinks_canberra@hotmail.com
Website www.greendrinks.org

This year Canberra GreenDrinks has continued to have a good turnout of people. So why not come along, look out for the GreenDrinkers sign and meet some new people.

Hope to see you there.
The GreenDrinkers